The manifestos have landed! But what are the parties going to do for small businesses?

[ChrisGoodfellow]

Hello,

The BusinessZone team has spent the day combing through (literally) hundreds of pages of the six main parties manifestos to find all the small business-related policies. You can view the easy-to-read guide here.

Personally I'm impressed by the smaller parties attention to detail. The Greens and UKIP both devoted a lot of time to these idea that should help small firms. The Tory's less so, but we've got their record to judge them on...

What do you think? Who should win the small business vote?


Thanks,

Chris

 

[Twinkle Toes]

Frankly I don't give a shit. Whatever the result small businesses will be ignored, you (ukbf) should be well aware of that by now.

The "BusinessZone" "team" (all one of you!!) have wasted your time on this.

Small businesses are just that, small. And as such the unheard cash cow (via business rates) of whatever government is in power.

 

[TODonnell]

Britain's deficit, historically low wages, ridiculous house prices (due to foreign investment), an economy run on 'debt + the City of London' and EEC membership are far more significant signs o' the times than what Tweedledum and TweedleDee will say to get themselves into office.

Britain is running down its armed forces to silly levels. It's saddled with a monstrous bureaucracy for its size. It has a population hooked on 'benefits' paid for by debt. The next 10 years are going to be painful.

Very few parliamentarians were or are businessmen. They tend to do stupid things as a result.

Labour, Greens, Lib Dems would be hopeless. They can't open their mouths without looking non-credible or just plain foolish.

The Conservatives are more business-oriented but Cameron & Co are Notting Hill Tories; they'll make the right noises and revert to the centrist status-quo after the election; they'll witter about trivial issues, while the epoch-making decisions are taken in Brussels, Peking, Moscow and Washington.

A sign of how desperate they are: trying to grab housing association property and sell it off. If the government had not done Right To Buy, how much do you thing council stock would be worth today? It only ends up in property developer's hands eventually.

[rant over]

 

[ChrisGoodfellow]

The "BusinessZone" "team" (all one of you!!) have wasted your time on this.

There's two of us!

 

[GraemeL]

Greens and attention to detail. Spot the mistake.

 

[fisicx]

Last etimate I read had £6 billion in circulation every day in the UK. Only a tiny fraction of that was generated by small businesses. Nowhere near enough to raise the slightest interest in the city. If 50% of the small businesses went bust tomorrow it wouldn't even cause a blip on the chart.

Individual politicians of any party may have a local interest in the local business but the holistic view of government is they don't matter that much.

 

[Paul Norman]

I actually do not want them to make condescending SME specific measures. Like issuing grants for things I do not need, and are complex to claim.

Here is a suggestion. Create a vibrant, secure, non-volatile and gently growing economy. Initiate a culture change within HMRC so that staff do not treat business owners as criminals - they should show us some respect. In such an arena, competent business people everywhere will make a decent living, grow their businesses and employ people.

I have not read the detail of the minor parties manifesto, but neither of the main parties have managed to convince me they will deliver on my wishes. Quite the reverse, both are now seeing who can out spend the other. Neither of them have had the decency to phone me and ask if I will underwrite their plans.

 

[IanG]

My thoughts -

Conservatives - "Review" of business rates. Be nice to know one year to the next what's happening.

Labour - careers advice for teenagers - what a complete waste of time that's going to be. Staffed by admin staff with no experience other than being admin staff, terribly poorly informed by those around them with little or no actual assistance available.

Lib Dem - encouraging crowd funding - I think you'll find the market has done that.

UKIP - 20% SBRR < £50k? Seems to penalise the current <£12k ish cohort.

 

[gordano]

I am not expecting any help, but I hope that whoever we get as the new government gives priority to economic growth and debt reduction otherwise I fear the future is bleak for all of us.

 

[Newchodge]

I am not expecting any help, but I hope that whoever we get as the new government gives priority to economic growth and debt reduction otherwise I fear the future is bleak for all of us.

Economic growth should result in debt reduction. Concentrating on debt reduction as this lot did, delays economic grosth

 

[KM-Tiger]

Concentrating on debt reduction as this lot did

Perhaps they need to concentrate harder, given that debt has increased by 50% ish since 2010.

The "savage cuts" beloved of lefty media like the BBC have been nothing of the sort, at best slowing down the rate of debt growth.

 

[mtools]

Perhaps they need to concentrate harder, given that debt has increased by 50% ish since 2010.

The "savage cuts" beloved of lefty media like the BBC have been nothing of the sort, at best slowing down the rate of debt growth.

"lefty BBC" being as robert peston conceded that often they side with the tory party on a lot of their stories so as to distance themselves from this untrue tag says it all. oh and don't get me started on nick robinson

 

[sirearl]

BBC left wing not on the salaries they get.

No media is left wing,even the left wing media.

Its more state of mind,rather than political.

 

[MikeJ]

Could someone rewrite the last two posts so they make sense?

 

[gordano]

Economic growth should result in debt reduction. Concentrating on debt reduction as this lot did, delays economic grosth

Agreed that economic growth should result in debt reduction, as long as the government use some of the increased revenues to pay down the debt.

 

[MikeJ]

Economic growth should result in debt reduction. Concentrating on debt reduction as this lot did, delays economic grosth

The head of the IMF disagrees.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32346214

 

[EliteAM]

Can somebody who has read it summarise the key points? I wish there was an app that can compare between - is there?

 

[Paul Norman]

BBC left wing not on the salaries they get.

No media is left wing,even the left wing media.

Its more state of mind,rather than political.

I agree with this comment. Likewise, leftwing politicians. They are not left wing.

 

[The Byre]

Economic growth should result in debt reduction. Concentrating on debt reduction as this lot did, delays economic growth

This - the choice between austerity on the one side and borrow and spend on the other is a classical false dichotomy. Not one of us would run our businesses that way - imagine, in order to pay off our debts, we either cut back on stock or marketing (cons) or we try to borrow our way out of debt (lab)!

The economic illiteracy of politicians is truly staggering!

 

[Small Biz Geek]

I'd like to see party who lobby the EU to stop ridiculous corporate legislation affecting small business.

 

[GraemeL]

I agree with this comment. Likewise, leftwing politicians. They are not left wing.

Are left wing politicans right then? or wrong?

 

[GraemeL]

Economic growth should result in debt reduction. Concentrating on debt reduction as this lot did, delays economic growth

Economic growth alone might reduce debt, but that is very unlikely. Like saying eat what you like as long as you walk a couple of miles each day. Your weight might go down, but very unlikely.

This comment demonstrates the common lack of understanding between deficit and debt. No debt reduction has been made over the last 5 years. Debt is increasing. See data below.

All that has been done is to slow down the rate of extra borrowing. This is annual government spend each year

year spend

2007-08 583
2008-09 630
2009-10 671
2010-11 692
2011-12 693
2012-13 674
2013-14 719
2014-15 731

The facts dont bear out a period of real austerity.

And yes, I was brought up in the north east in a staunch labour area and drank Fed.

G

 

[MikeJ]

We had growth from 2002 to 2008. The debt and deficit went up each year.

 

[roydmoorian]

Is this legal ?

http://www.swapmyvote.uk/

 

[Nuno]

We had growth from 2002 to 2008. The debt and deficit went up each year.

Which suggests that the growth was funded by borrowing money rather than by growth in the value of output or any real productivity gains.
We borrowed to have a good time. But we have to repay it, We can repay by output growth, productivity growth or inflation. The first two are unlikely. Last quarter we deflated instead of inflated. Oh dear.
And we've already sold the silver.

 

[MikeJ]

The Greens and the SNP both think we should start borrowing and spending in order to grow the economy, which will allow us to reduce the deficit in the long term.

 

[Nuno]

Borrowing more is one solution. As we are at the very top of our borrowing limits in terms of a % of GDP, any borrowing has the possibility of reducing our rating from AAA to, say, AA. This will make borrowing more expensive as rates will rise, and we will have to spend borrowed money on repayments rather than anything that helps our economy.
Instead we will be committed to interest payments which could themselves cause cuts.
This will, or might, make repayment periods longer, austerity will be longer and likely more stringent and we will be back where we started but with bigger debts.

Sadly all the politicians, all of the main party ones anyway, know this, but our system of elections is based on jam today and more jam tomorrow.
So we get bribes and we get bogie men to blame, (those poxy non-doms who only contribute 5% of all income tax for instance), and we get the governments we deserve.

 

[Raw Rob]

I wish there was an app that can compare between - is there?

There are several:
https://voteforpolicies.org.uk/
http://www.whoshouldyouvotefor.com/

 

[TODonnell]

Nations are 'lenders of last resort' or sovereign bodies. Something like that. So I think they get extended a long line of credit before the bailiffs are called.

The catch is, the worse their credit rating e.g. AAA to BBB, the more they pay for loans. Just like Joe Soap.

Politicians can run up huge national debts, citizens as a whole can be hooked on credit, but you can still have economic 'growth'; shops will sell, businesses will boom, the carnival goes on.

I think as long as you can keep making the payments, lenders will lend. Just like with individuals, they love a debtor much more than a careful spender; all that lovely interest.

Your great-grandchildren, in 50 years, will be paying for your comfy existence, now.

"So what?" sez Joe 2015.

 

[Newchodge]

"Your great-grandchildren, in 50 years, will be paying for your comfy existence, now."

The money we spend now goes on our children as well - NHS, schooling etc are used by our children. I don't buy the argument that our children should not have to pay for our debt - it is their debt too.

 

[sirearl]

"Your great-grandchildren, in 50 years, will be paying for your comfy existence, now."

The money we spend now goes on our children as well - NHS, schooling etc are used by our children. I don't buy the argument that our children should not have to pay for our debt - it is their debt too.

Does that include the shiny new BMW and the 90 inch smart TV ,or Ipad 6ooo or any other toys so beloved of the current generation.

Not there choice was it.

 

[TODonnell]

I think Britain has simply borrowed beyond it's means, is running a constant fat debt (on which interest has to be paid) and it's bought things which are politically motivated rather than by studied foresight. Or just out of ignorance.

All politicians are afraid to cut the fat, because it's political death. The so-called 'cuts' aren't financially significant.

If it was a business, you'd buy it, load it with more you (your) debt and let it collapse and take the debt with it, or, just make some swingeing cuts to the Public Entitlement Cult and most people wouldn't notice much difference in service.

 

[alexft]

Nearly all countries borrow.Feel free to check. Those who borrow more and can get away with it do better Where do extra money come from? Gov + household debts + export revenues. Unless some country gov starts to issue own money directly similar to JFK greenbacks.

Btw Russian gov gets 50% of all Central Bank profits

As to what is going to happen in UK soon.

One trend is less consumption, spending more on small virtual services to feel better also known as apps, games

Some people also spend more on eco food, eco stuff aka 'smart' consumption.

Can someone here post last 2 years UK borrowing stats?

Imo if UK gov of any kind plans to reduce borrowing without change of people and structural reforms pool of available cash is likely to shrink. However in my opinion its possible to get rich now.

 

[Small Biz Geek]

Does that include the shiny new BMW and the 90 inch smart TV ,or Ipad 6ooo or any other toys so beloved of the current generation.

I don't own a car, I sold my TV and bought a second hand iPad. Haha.

 

[sirearl]

Can someone here post last 2 years UK borrowing stats?

http://www.ukpublicspending.co.uk/uk_national_debt_chart.html

 

[alexft]

So seems its nearly trebled from 2008. And yet where is corresponding improvement of living standards? Sometimes Central Banks seems to be similar to heroine dealers lol